Saturday, June 20, 2009

Just a few short days ago, I hosted my very first Pink Slip Party. The whole experience was surreal because when we were planning this event we knew that it was going to be successful, but we had no idea that we would receive the type of response that it did. The day started out with a 7:00 interview at our local Fox affiliate. Regardless of what preconceived notions people have about people that work for Fox, they were some of the nicest people I've ever met. Later on that afternoon, my co-host, Carlos, and I were contacted by NBC to do an interview before the event opened up to the public. We were already running late, but you don't say no to NBC. Again the experience with NBC was great. They actually stayed throughout the entire event and covered it on the 6 o'clock as well as the 11 o'clock news broadcasts.

We initially anticipated there would be anywhere from 60-70 job seekers that would show up. Never did I think that we would pull close to 400 people given the short amount of time that we had to promote it. It wasn't until someone came inside and told me that the General Manager of the establishment was threatening to shut us down because there was a line around the corner that I realized that this was more than just a "party" or a networking event. This was a movement! It was also then that I realized that this could be the beginning of the end of traditional job fairs.

In the same way that Google, change searched, and Apple changed the way people accessed music, or Facebook changed how we interact with each other, Pink Slip Parties could be that mechanism of change. I'm not saying that traditional job fairs will be gone tomorrow, but given the feedback that we've received, everyone from Employers to job seekers really enjoyed themselves and appreciated the fact that you could have a more intimate conversation with a potential employer in a casual environment. Grant it, after a while space was at a premium; but I think everyone made some great contacts in some form or another.

As a Pink Slip Party host, I made some observations, and came up with a list of things to help you get the most out of your next Pink Slip Party experience. These tips can be carried over into your job search, or networking in general. They are as follows:

Top 10 Networking Tips for Working a Pink Slip Party

Rule1: Don’t attend just to attend.
Ask yourself what is it that you want? If you want to work for company X or have aspirations of Director Z, you won’t get there by knowing a lot of middle people. You need to know the right people, for the right reason. These very people are looking for creative ways to find talent. If you don’t come with your “A” game, you could miss out on a huge opportunity.


Rule 2: Take Names.

Make a list of the people or companies that you would like to meet at the Pink Slip Party. Reach out to employers before hand and let them know that you plan on attending. Most Pink Slip Parties have flyers or websites that feature the companies that will be in attendance. This is a great way to get make some connections before the event even begins.

Rule 3: Build it before you need it.

Network early and often. If you are networking because you need something, it’s already too late. People can tell the difference between desperation and a genuine attempt to create a relationship. Even if you’re not out of work, it’s still a great idea to attend these events. You never know when you may need to reach out to a potential employer

Rule 4: Never Eat Alone.

Keep your social, conference and event calendars full. The Pink Slip Parties are not the end all be all. After a Pink Slip Party, take a potential employer out to lunch or for coffee. Stay relevant. Find out what’s going on within their organization, and how you may be able to fill a need. Attend as many networking events as you can. Sure they get old, but the one event that you don’t go to is the one event that your future employer will be at.

Rule 5: Be interesting

Have something to say when you meet people. There’s also networking etiquette. If someone is speaking to a person you have been dying to talk to, wait your turn. Don’t interrupt.

Rule 6: Always Ask

Whatever it is, always ask! You never know until you ask!

Rule 7: Ping Constantly

80% of networking is just staying in touch. A quick casual greeting, otherwise known as pinging. The 24 hours following a Pink Slip Party are the most important. Build off the momentum and the contacts you made the night before. Emails are good, but they’re not enough. Pick Up the phone!

Rule 8: Be Adaptable and Flexible

Ok, so your calling was to become an accountant. Truth of the matter is that the financial industry has been decimated by recent events. You may need to think of a different career path. Instead of working for one of the big accounting firms, how about teaching accounting at a local college? President Obama has passed various legislation bills that will put funds back into the school systems and compensate teachers for their work. The quicker you decide to make a change the better it will be for your career. Once the economy picks back up, you can then try your hand at being an accountant again.

Rule 9: Be Selective

When you’ve been out of work for a while it’s very tempting to jump at the first offer that comes your way. Do your due diligence and make sure that you are making the right decision for you and your career. There’s a saying in baseball that goes “wait for the right pitch”. The same is true when you’re looking for the right job.

Rule 10: Differentiate yourself from everyone in the room

Find a way to stand out from the crowd. The talent pool is flooded with highly qualified applicants competing for the same job you’re after. Do something, anything. Just make sure your name and face are memorable.

For additional information on upcoming Pink Slip Parties in your area or to view our job board, please
visit http://www.jux-ta-pose.com/

Below are a couple of media clips from the event:

http://www.wesh.com/video/19720158/index.html

http://www.wesh.com/video/19720157/index.html

Maro, Founder
Jux.ta.pose
The Premier Social Job Board
Connect. Discuss. Find Jobs!
e: info@jux-ta-pose.com